Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s focal leadership in the player movement to play college football this season has been met with almost universal praise across the country as Power 5 conferences decide on the next steps amid safety concerns surrounding COVID-19. But Lawrence does not speak for everyone, according to ACC defenders Trill Williams and Elijah Jones.
“Trevor Lawrence is NOT the CFB’s spokesman, “Jones, a cornerback at Boston College, tweeted on Tuesday.
Williams, a defensive back at Syracuse, retweeted Jones’ message titled “no cap,” agreeing with the take. Lawrence initiated the We Want To Play movement on Sunday when he posted a tweet thread about why players are afraid to return to the field this season.
Speaking to the media for the first time since the movement began on Monday, Lawrence explained his reasoning behind the start. Dozens of players retweet the hashtag and express their thoughts, including the Ohio State star Justin Fields.
“We were like, ‘We need to do something fast and we need to do something that people will read it and people will listen.’ All the momentum went the wrong way for us, so we really wanted to change that, ” Lawrence said.
Lawrence added that he understands the risks of gambling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are adults who make decisions for ourselves. If there was a chance we could die, I would not be here. I’m just busy, I have a lot for me. We feel safe here, we do not say it just because we want to play, “he said.
247Sports analyst Clint Buckley contributed to this story.
